In a significant move marking a new chapter in India’s administrative history, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is shifting to a new, modern facility on January 14. The relocation coincides with the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti and ends the PMO’s nearly eight-decade-long presence in the historic South Block.
The new address for the country’s top executive office is the ‘Seva Teerth’ complex, a purpose-built facility under the ambitious Central Vista Redevelopment Project. The PMO will be housed in a building named ‘Seva Teerth-1’, which features contemporary workspaces and ceremonial rooms designed around the theme of ‘seva’ or service.
New Executive Enclave
The ‘Seva Teerth’ complex, also known as the Executive Enclave, is designed to house key government bodies in close proximity. Besides the PMO, the complex includes separate buildings for the Cabinet Secretariat and the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS).
The Cabinet Secretariat had already moved into its new building, ‘Seva Teerth-2’, in September of the previous year. The third building, ‘Seva Teerth-3’, is designated for the office of the National Security Advisor.
Constructed by Larsen & Toubro at a cost of ₹1,189 crore, the entire complex spans an area of 2,26,203 square feet.
Future of South Block
With the PMO’s departure, the historic South Block, which has been the seat of power since India’s independence in 1947, will be transformed. The government plans to convert the South and North Blocks into a public museum named ‘Yuge Yugeen Bharat Sangrahalaya’.
To support the development of this planned museum, an agreement was signed on December 19, 2024, with a French museum development agency for technical cooperation.
Shedding Colonial Legacy
This relocation is aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of moving away from colonial-era infrastructure and practices. His government previously renamed the historic Rajpath to ‘Kartavya Path’.
A new official residence for the Prime Minister, currently termed ‘Executive Enclave Part 2’, is also under construction nearby. These developments are part of a larger government initiative to modernize central government workspaces and improve administrative efficiency by consolidating ministries that are currently spread across various locations in Delhi.
